Projects | Age of Creativity

The Team behind the Age of Creativity are based at Age UK Oxfordshire and we have delivered a wide variety of projects and resources over the years. Every Age Friendly Creative project we lead at a local level supports our national ambitions, using a test and learn approach to share with our extensive networks. Equally, all of our national work supports grassroots delivery, providing Creative Ageing partners with useful resources and practical expertise. Take a look at some of the work we have delivered since 2016:

	Title
	Creative Challenge Pack 2023 (Age UK Oxfordshire / 64M Artists / Dementia Oxfordshire \| UK Wide) May 2023 With 31 creative ideas for everyone, this pack was developed by Age of Creativity in partnership with older people across the county, 64 Million Artists and Dementia Oxfordshire. Available to download as a pack or search for individual challenges.
	Unexpected Encounters: How museums nurture living and ageing well 2016-18 (Age UK Oxfordshire/ University of Leicester \| England) August 2022 University of Leicester explored the relationship between natural heritage, older people and wellbeing. Age UK Oxfordshire were a strategic partner. https://le.ac.uk/-/media/uol/docs/research-centres/rcmg/publications/unexpected-encounters-s.pdf
	How can the cultural sector support older people’s well-being as part of social prescribing? 2021 (University of Oxfordshire/ Age UK Oxfordshire \| England) August 2022 This interim policy document by University of Oxford reports on an on-going study, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). Age UK Oxfordshire were one of a number of key partners involved in the research.
	Celebrating Age Funding for National Festival Development 2018-19 (Age UK Oxfordshire/ Voluntary Arts \| UK Wide) August 2022 Age UK Oxfordshire and Voluntary Arts were jointly awarded £100k to develop the Age of Creativity Festival and Get Creative, supporting older people across the UK to access local creative and cultural experiences. Funded by ACE and Baring Foundation ...
	Banbury Age of Creativity Festival 2019 Evaluation Report by Helen Fountain (Age UK Oxfordshire \| Oxfordshire) August 2022 Oxfordshire Age Friendly Creative Network delivered a partnership event at the Mill Arts Centre to explore ways in which the arts could contribute to the Age Friendly Banbury project and specifically reduce loneliness and isolation.
	Joint APPG: Older People and APPG: Arts for Health and Wellbeing (Age of Creativity/ APPG Secretariats \| Greater London) August 2022 On Wednesday 10 October 2018, House of Commons Committee Room 17, Parliament, the first joint APPG meeting focussed on creative ageing took place- instigated by the Age of Creativity for the inaugrual Age of Creativity Festival.
	Creating the void: collective change in shared isolation – Farrell Renowden in conversation with researcher Karen Gray (University of Bristol/ Age UK Oxfordshire \| Oxfordshire) August 2022 Farrell Renowden is Head of Cultural Partnerships at Age UK Oxfordshire, Age of Creativity Director, EDI Champion at Age England Association and one of our ‘Connecting through Culture’ project’s expert advisors. We spoke at the end of April 202 ...
	Family Arts Campaign: Age Friendly Standards (Family Arts Campaign/ Age of Creativity \| UK Wide) August 2022 Age-Friendly Standards are a national self-assessed accreditation for cultural organisations and a recognised and trusted symbol for older audiences and family groups, including older people. Age of Creativity provided expertise in their development.
	Creative Ageing Festivals- How to get involved (Age of Creativity/ Silver Sunday/ Arts in Care Homes \| England) August 2022 The Age of Creativity Festival, Silver Sunday and Arts in Care Homes are all special moments throughout the year to celebrate creative ageing. Find out the who, what, where, when, why of each festival and how to get involved.
	Oxfordshire Age Friendly Creative Network (Age UK Oxfordshire \| Oxfordshire) August 2022 The Oxfordshire Age Friendly Creative Network (OAFCN) exists to ensure that older people across Oxfordshire have access to high quality creative and cultural opportunities. To join contact HelenFountain@ageukoxfordshire.org.uk (part of the AoC Team)
	Creative Windows for the Jubilee (Age UK Oxfordshire \| Oxfordshire) August 2022 This project was delivered by Age UK Oxfordshire, co-designed by our Age Friendly Creative Ambassadors and funded by Arts Council England to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee with communities across Oxfordshire. The final outcome forms a Jubilee Archive
	Connecting Through Culture As We Age (Age of Creativity/ University of Bristol \| UK Wide) August 2022 Connecting through culture as we age is a co-produced research project that explores how and why we take part in arts and culture as we get older. The Age of Creativity have been supporting this Knowledge Transfer project as a key partner.
	TeaBooks Oxfordshire: Supported Reading Book Groups (Age UK Oxfordshire \| Oxfordshire) August 2022 The TeaBooks project organises social book groups for the over 60s, which enable members to share their love of books and reading while making new friends. Each group is facilitated by a trained volunteer group leader.
	Place Making or Making Place? Part of: Age of Creativity Festival 2022 (Age of Creativity Festival 2022 \| England) August 2022 This partnership event was co-devised by colleagues at Keele University, Staffordshire University and Age UK Oxfordshire, as part of the Age of Creativity Festival 2022 and Creative Later Life 2025.
	Creative Later Life Network (Age UK Oxfordshire \| England) August 2022 Farrell Renowden (Age of Creativity) leads a national network of local Age UKs to share creative resources, inspiration and peer to peer learning across England. Age UK colleagues can join for free. Contact: farrellrenowden@ageukoxfordshire.org.uk
	Coventry City of Culture- The Show Windows: Reflections with Historic England (Historic England/ Age of Creativity \| Warwickshire) July 2022 Coventry City of Culture, Historic England and the Age of Creativity worked in partnership to commission an older artist to be part of the celebrations. Martin Green, a local visual artist, produced a contemporary heritage archive for The Arcade.
	Art by Post: Of Home and Hope 2020-22 (Age UK Oxfordshire \| Oxfordshire) June 2022 The Southbank Centre’s Art by Post project launched in May 2020 to provide free creative activities to people across the UK at risk of social isolation, loneliness and digital exclusion. Age UK Oxfordshire were a key local delivery partner.
	Framing Oxford (Age UK Oxfordshire/ Oxford History Centre/ Film Oxford \| Oxfordshire) May 2021 This project took place during the Covid 19 pandemic and adopted a blended approach to delivery, both on-line and off-line. The Framing Oxford film shares the outcomes from the project and was made in partnership with Film Oxford.
	Creativity and Ageing by Graham Riach, University of Oxford (Oxfordshire/ Age UK Oxfordshire \| Oxfordshire) ARCHIVED 2022 Graham Riach’s KE project aimed to reframe the discourse around ageing populations, by exploring the relationships between creativity and ageing. In collaboration with Age UK Oxfordshire, Graham ran three creative writing workshops with older peopl ...
	Age UK Inspiration Pack for local Age UKs and Cultural Sector Partnerships. (Age UK \| UK Wide) ARCHIVED 2022 Age UK Oxfordshire has been working in partnership with Age UK HQ to help develop more creative and cultural activities locally across the country. This resource is designed to help facilitate more local partnerships across England.
	Moments of Magic- Age Friendly Creativity During the Pandemic (Age UK Oxfordshire/ Oxfordshire Age Friendly Creative Network \| Oxfordshire) ARCHIVED 2024 This event was organised by Age UK Oxfordshire's Age Friendly Creative Network to celebrate the best of local age friendly creative projects delivered during the pandemic. Focusing on the Southbank Centre's Art by Post project which visited Banbury.
	Re-imagining (our) birthdays - An International Creative Celebration Of Our Birthdays (Age of Creativity \| Worldwide) ARCHIVED 2023 Join us for a FREE online International Creative Celebration Of Our Birthdays, Wednesday 24th May, 3pm. Living is something to be celebrated at every age so what would a hope-inspiring birthday, which also speaks to the experience of ageing be like?
	Creative and Cultural Activities and Wellbeing in Later Life (AgeUK \| UK Wide) ARCHIVED 2021 Age UK Oxfordshire worked with Age UK to explore data from the Index of Wellbeing in Later Life 2017 in more detail. This report focusses on creative and cultural participation.
	Creative Challenge Pack (Age UK Oxfordshire/ 64M Artists \| Oxfordshire) ARCHIVED 2024 During the pandemic, we adapted the Creative Challenge Pack produced in 2019 (as part of the Age of Creativity Festival) to become part of a postal project. Packs were delivered to 1000 homes in 2021 with support from local community teams.
	BBC Music Day (BBC/ Age of Creativity \| UK Wide) ARCHIVED 2023 BBC Music Day 2018/19 focussed on Dementia & Music and developed a number of flagship projects that are still available for people living with dementia and their carers. The Age of Creativity Team were key strategic partners throughout this project.
	Oxford Age Friendly Creative Consultation Report by Helen Fountain (Age UK Oxfordshire \| Oxfordshire) ARCHIVED 2023 In 2019 Age UK Oxfordshire’s Age Friendly Creative Network was awarded funding from Oxford City Council’s Culture Fund to support delivery of an Age Friendly Creative Consultation in Oxford City focussed on those who don't take part.
	WANTED: Freelance Fundraiser (Age UK Oxon \| Oxfordshire) ARCHIVED 2022 Timescale of work: January 2023 to March 2023. Project fee: Up to £5,000 inclusive of all expenses and VAT (if applicable). Location: Remote / Online working with some time at the Age UK Oxfordshire Head Office, Abingdon, if needed. Reporti ...
	Bicester Festival Age Friendly Creative Pop Up Evaluation Report by Helen Fountain (Age UK Oxfordshire \| Oxfordshire) ARCHIVED 2022 With generous funding from Cherwell District Councils Spark Fund and fantastic support from our partners and colleagues we delivered a number of events across Bicester as part of the Age of Creativity Festival to test and learn new approaches.
	Age UK Arts Facilitator's Guide by 64 Million Artists (Age of Creativity/64 Million Artists \| UK Wide) ARCHIVED 2022 This was commissioned by Age of Creativity Festival for Age UKs in 2019. As well as a handy facilitators guide, with hints and tips for running a successful creative session, you find 6 sets of PDFs of creative challenges people can complete every ...
	A summary: Age UK's index of wellbeing in later life (Age UK \| UK Wide) ARCHIVED 2020 The Wellbeing in Later Life Index, developed by Age UK and the University of Southampton, analysed data from 15,000 people aged 60 and over to measure the wellbeing of the UK older population. 'Creativity and Cultural Participation' came out top.

	Title
	Creative Challenge Pack 2023 (Age UK Oxfordshire / 64M Artists / Dementia Oxfordshire \| UK Wide) May 2023 With 31 creative ideas for everyone, this pack was developed by Age of Creativity in partnership with older people across the county, 64 Million Artists and Dementia Oxfordshire. Available to download as a pack or search for individual challenges.
	Unexpected Encounters: How museums nurture living and ageing well 2016-18 (Age UK Oxfordshire/ University of Leicester \| England) August 2022 University of Leicester explored the relationship between natural heritage, older people and wellbeing. Age UK Oxfordshire were a strategic partner. https://le.ac.uk/-/media/uol/docs/research-centres/rcmg/publications/unexpected-encounters-s.pdf
	How can the cultural sector support older people’s well-being as part of social prescribing? 2021 (University of Oxfordshire/ Age UK Oxfordshire \| England) August 2022 This interim policy document by University of Oxford reports on an on-going study, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). Age UK Oxfordshire were one of a number of key partners involved in the research.
	Celebrating Age Funding for National Festival Development 2018-19 (Age UK Oxfordshire/ Voluntary Arts \| UK Wide) August 2022 Age UK Oxfordshire and Voluntary Arts were jointly awarded £100k to develop the Age of Creativity Festival and Get Creative, supporting older people across the UK to access local creative and cultural experiences. Funded by ACE and Baring Foundation ...
	Banbury Age of Creativity Festival 2019 Evaluation Report by Helen Fountain (Age UK Oxfordshire \| Oxfordshire) August 2022 Oxfordshire Age Friendly Creative Network delivered a partnership event at the Mill Arts Centre to explore ways in which the arts could contribute to the Age Friendly Banbury project and specifically reduce loneliness and isolation.
	Joint APPG: Older People and APPG: Arts for Health and Wellbeing (Age of Creativity/ APPG Secretariats \| Greater London) August 2022 On Wednesday 10 October 2018, House of Commons Committee Room 17, Parliament, the first joint APPG meeting focussed on creative ageing took place- instigated by the Age of Creativity for the inaugrual Age of Creativity Festival.
	Creating the void: collective change in shared isolation – Farrell Renowden in conversation with researcher Karen Gray (University of Bristol/ Age UK Oxfordshire \| Oxfordshire) August 2022 Farrell Renowden is Head of Cultural Partnerships at Age UK Oxfordshire, Age of Creativity Director, EDI Champion at Age England Association and one of our ‘Connecting through Culture’ project’s expert advisors. We spoke at the end of April 202 ...
	Family Arts Campaign: Age Friendly Standards (Family Arts Campaign/ Age of Creativity \| UK Wide) August 2022 Age-Friendly Standards are a national self-assessed accreditation for cultural organisations and a recognised and trusted symbol for older audiences and family groups, including older people. Age of Creativity provided expertise in their development.
	Creative Ageing Festivals- How to get involved (Age of Creativity/ Silver Sunday/ Arts in Care Homes \| England) August 2022 The Age of Creativity Festival, Silver Sunday and Arts in Care Homes are all special moments throughout the year to celebrate creative ageing. Find out the who, what, where, when, why of each festival and how to get involved.
	Oxfordshire Age Friendly Creative Network (Age UK Oxfordshire \| Oxfordshire) August 2022 The Oxfordshire Age Friendly Creative Network (OAFCN) exists to ensure that older people across Oxfordshire have access to high quality creative and cultural opportunities. To join contact HelenFountain@ageukoxfordshire.org.uk (part of the AoC Team)
	Creative Windows for the Jubilee (Age UK Oxfordshire \| Oxfordshire) August 2022 This project was delivered by Age UK Oxfordshire, co-designed by our Age Friendly Creative Ambassadors and funded by Arts Council England to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee with communities across Oxfordshire. The final outcome forms a Jubilee Archive
	Connecting Through Culture As We Age (Age of Creativity/ University of Bristol \| UK Wide) August 2022 Connecting through culture as we age is a co-produced research project that explores how and why we take part in arts and culture as we get older. The Age of Creativity have been supporting this Knowledge Transfer project as a key partner.
	TeaBooks Oxfordshire: Supported Reading Book Groups (Age UK Oxfordshire \| Oxfordshire) August 2022 The TeaBooks project organises social book groups for the over 60s, which enable members to share their love of books and reading while making new friends. Each group is facilitated by a trained volunteer group leader.
	Place Making or Making Place? Part of: Age of Creativity Festival 2022 (Age of Creativity Festival 2022 \| England) August 2022 This partnership event was co-devised by colleagues at Keele University, Staffordshire University and Age UK Oxfordshire, as part of the Age of Creativity Festival 2022 and Creative Later Life 2025.
	Creative Later Life Network (Age UK Oxfordshire \| England) August 2022 Farrell Renowden (Age of Creativity) leads a national network of local Age UKs to share creative resources, inspiration and peer to peer learning across England. Age UK colleagues can join for free. Contact: farrellrenowden@ageukoxfordshire.org.uk
	Coventry City of Culture- The Show Windows: Reflections with Historic England (Historic England/ Age of Creativity \| Warwickshire) July 2022 Coventry City of Culture, Historic England and the Age of Creativity worked in partnership to commission an older artist to be part of the celebrations. Martin Green, a local visual artist, produced a contemporary heritage archive for The Arcade.
	Art by Post: Of Home and Hope 2020-22 (Age UK Oxfordshire \| Oxfordshire) June 2022 The Southbank Centre’s Art by Post project launched in May 2020 to provide free creative activities to people across the UK at risk of social isolation, loneliness and digital exclusion. Age UK Oxfordshire were a key local delivery partner.
	Framing Oxford (Age UK Oxfordshire/ Oxford History Centre/ Film Oxford \| Oxfordshire) May 2021 This project took place during the Covid 19 pandemic and adopted a blended approach to delivery, both on-line and off-line. The Framing Oxford film shares the outcomes from the project and was made in partnership with Film Oxford.
	Creativity and Ageing by Graham Riach, University of Oxford (Oxfordshire/ Age UK Oxfordshire \| Oxfordshire) ARCHIVED 2022 Graham Riach’s KE project aimed to reframe the discourse around ageing populations, by exploring the relationships between creativity and ageing. In collaboration with Age UK Oxfordshire, Graham ran three creative writing workshops with older peopl ...
	Age UK Inspiration Pack for local Age UKs and Cultural Sector Partnerships. (Age UK \| UK Wide) ARCHIVED 2022 Age UK Oxfordshire has been working in partnership with Age UK HQ to help develop more creative and cultural activities locally across the country. This resource is designed to help facilitate more local partnerships across England.
	Moments of Magic- Age Friendly Creativity During the Pandemic (Age UK Oxfordshire/ Oxfordshire Age Friendly Creative Network \| Oxfordshire) ARCHIVED 2024 This event was organised by Age UK Oxfordshire's Age Friendly Creative Network to celebrate the best of local age friendly creative projects delivered during the pandemic. Focusing on the Southbank Centre's Art by Post project which visited Banbury.
	Re-imagining (our) birthdays - An International Creative Celebration Of Our Birthdays (Age of Creativity \| Worldwide) ARCHIVED 2023 Join us for a FREE online International Creative Celebration Of Our Birthdays, Wednesday 24th May, 3pm. Living is something to be celebrated at every age so what would a hope-inspiring birthday, which also speaks to the experience of ageing be like?
	Creative and Cultural Activities and Wellbeing in Later Life (AgeUK \| UK Wide) ARCHIVED 2021 Age UK Oxfordshire worked with Age UK to explore data from the Index of Wellbeing in Later Life 2017 in more detail. This report focusses on creative and cultural participation.
	Creative Challenge Pack (Age UK Oxfordshire/ 64M Artists \| Oxfordshire) ARCHIVED 2024 During the pandemic, we adapted the Creative Challenge Pack produced in 2019 (as part of the Age of Creativity Festival) to become part of a postal project. Packs were delivered to 1000 homes in 2021 with support from local community teams.
	BBC Music Day (BBC/ Age of Creativity \| UK Wide) ARCHIVED 2023 BBC Music Day 2018/19 focussed on Dementia & Music and developed a number of flagship projects that are still available for people living with dementia and their carers. The Age of Creativity Team were key strategic partners throughout this project.
	Oxford Age Friendly Creative Consultation Report by Helen Fountain (Age UK Oxfordshire \| Oxfordshire) ARCHIVED 2023 In 2019 Age UK Oxfordshire’s Age Friendly Creative Network was awarded funding from Oxford City Council’s Culture Fund to support delivery of an Age Friendly Creative Consultation in Oxford City focussed on those who don't take part.
	WANTED: Freelance Fundraiser (Age UK Oxon \| Oxfordshire) ARCHIVED 2022 Timescale of work: January 2023 to March 2023. Project fee: Up to £5,000 inclusive of all expenses and VAT (if applicable). Location: Remote / Online working with some time at the Age UK Oxfordshire Head Office, Abingdon, if needed. Reporti ...
	Bicester Festival Age Friendly Creative Pop Up Evaluation Report by Helen Fountain (Age UK Oxfordshire \| Oxfordshire) ARCHIVED 2022 With generous funding from Cherwell District Councils Spark Fund and fantastic support from our partners and colleagues we delivered a number of events across Bicester as part of the Age of Creativity Festival to test and learn new approaches.
	Age UK Arts Facilitator's Guide by 64 Million Artists (Age of Creativity/64 Million Artists \| UK Wide) ARCHIVED 2022 This was commissioned by Age of Creativity Festival for Age UKs in 2019. As well as a handy facilitators guide, with hints and tips for running a successful creative session, you find 6 sets of PDFs of creative challenges people can complete every ...
	A summary: Age UK's index of wellbeing in later life (Age UK \| UK Wide) ARCHIVED 2020 The Wellbeing in Later Life Index, developed by Age UK and the University of Southampton, analysed data from 15,000 people aged 60 and over to measure the wellbeing of the UK older population. 'Creativity and Cultural Participation' came out top.

OUR PROJECTS

Creative Challenge Pack 2023 (Age UK Oxfordshire / 64M Artists / Dementia Oxfordshire | UK Wide) May 2023

Unexpected Encounters: How museums nurture living and ageing well 2016-18 (Age UK Oxfordshire/ University of Leicester | England) August 2022

How can the cultural sector support older people’s well-being as part of social prescribing? 2021 (University of Oxfordshire/ Age UK Oxfordshire | England) August 2022

Celebrating Age Funding for National Festival Development 2018-19 (Age UK Oxfordshire/ Voluntary Arts | UK Wide) August 2022

Banbury Age of Creativity Festival 2019 Evaluation Report by Helen Fountain (Age UK Oxfordshire | Oxfordshire) August 2022

Joint APPG: Older People and APPG: Arts for Health and Wellbeing (Age of Creativity/ APPG Secretariats | Greater London) August 2022

Creating the void: collective change in shared isolation – Farrell Renowden in conversation with researcher Karen Gray (University of Bristol/ Age UK Oxfordshire | Oxfordshire) August 2022

Family Arts Campaign: Age Friendly Standards (Family Arts Campaign/ Age of Creativity | UK Wide) August 2022

Creative Ageing Festivals- How to get involved (Age of Creativity/ Silver Sunday/ Arts in Care Homes | England) August 2022

Oxfordshire Age Friendly Creative Network (Age UK Oxfordshire | Oxfordshire) August 2022

Creative Windows for the Jubilee (Age UK Oxfordshire | Oxfordshire) August 2022

Connecting Through Culture As We Age (Age of Creativity/ University of Bristol | UK Wide) August 2022

TeaBooks Oxfordshire: Supported Reading Book Groups (Age UK Oxfordshire | Oxfordshire) August 2022

Place Making or Making Place? Part of: Age of Creativity Festival 2022 (Age of Creativity Festival 2022 | England) August 2022

Creative Later Life Network (Age UK Oxfordshire | England) August 2022

Coventry City of Culture- The Show Windows: Reflections with Historic England (Historic England/ Age of Creativity | Warwickshire) July 2022

Art by Post: Of Home and Hope 2020-22 (Age UK Oxfordshire | Oxfordshire) June 2022

Framing Oxford (Age UK Oxfordshire/ Oxford History Centre/ Film Oxford | Oxfordshire) May 2021

Creativity and Ageing by Graham Riach, University of Oxford (Oxfordshire/ Age UK Oxfordshire | Oxfordshire) ARCHIVED 2022

Age UK Inspiration Pack for local Age UKs and Cultural Sector Partnerships. (Age UK | UK Wide) ARCHIVED 2022

Moments of Magic- Age Friendly Creativity During the Pandemic (Age UK Oxfordshire/ Oxfordshire Age Friendly Creative Network | Oxfordshire) ARCHIVED 2024

Re-imagining (our) birthdays - An International Creative Celebration Of Our Birthdays (Age of Creativity | Worldwide) ARCHIVED 2023

Creative and Cultural Activities and Wellbeing in Later Life (AgeUK | UK Wide) ARCHIVED 2021

Creative Challenge Pack (Age UK Oxfordshire/ 64M Artists | Oxfordshire) ARCHIVED 2024

BBC Music Day (BBC/ Age of Creativity | UK Wide) ARCHIVED 2023

Oxford Age Friendly Creative Consultation Report by Helen Fountain (Age UK Oxfordshire | Oxfordshire) ARCHIVED 2023

WANTED: Freelance Fundraiser (Age UK Oxon | Oxfordshire) ARCHIVED 2022

Bicester Festival Age Friendly Creative Pop Up Evaluation Report by Helen Fountain (Age UK Oxfordshire | Oxfordshire) ARCHIVED 2022

Age UK Arts Facilitator's Guide by 64 Million Artists (Age of Creativity/64 Million Artists | UK Wide) ARCHIVED 2022

A summary: Age UK's index of wellbeing in later life (Age UK | UK Wide) ARCHIVED 2020